DPCHURCH
Celebrate. Connect. Contribute.Archive for Christian Walk/Journey
Roadblocks or Coffee Breaks?
I am supposed to go online and download upgrades to my GPS. I haven’t done this yet. That’s pretty stupid on my part.
The upgraded maps will keep me on the right road. They allow me to find the Starbucks in each city. They get me where I need and want to be. The upgraded maps keep my wife off my back! But I haven’t upgraded them, yet. So, I miss the construction detours and the coffee shops. Instead, I get a frustrated wife.
I think the Church is like a GPS system. It is about people coming alongside of you as you discover your destination. The Church improves the “map” as the journey continues. Christianity was never meant to be a do it alone faith. God has called us to collaborative partnerships with other believers for accomplishing what He wants us to do.
Please, don’t think I’m saying the Church needs an “upgrade.” What I am saying is that you and I need the Church (each other) so we can navigate this journey with fewer roadblocks and more coffee breaks.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Applause
1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is 
ever useless.
Lest we forget, as Christ followers, we are Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered ministers. Paul says we are to be strong and immovable (firmly planted) and to work enthusiastically (work to where even physical exhaustion doesn’t even discourage us). But at the same time, the Lord encourages us that He is taking note of every single work of ministry we perform.
Notice that “for the Lord” occurs twice in this verse. These words are the key to balancing what is necessary to do in ministry and what should not consume your time. “For the Lord” implies that the work must be God-honoring and that you should be doing the work that God has called you to do. God has empowered you to do what He has called you to do.
Here’s the tough part for some of us. You don’t need to rely on the accolades of others to confirm your ministry. Remember that God is your constant audience, whether crowds surround you or disappear. He is constantly cheering your strides, like a proud Father would. Your ministry is not going unnoticed.
Safely Resting
In the early 90s I lived in New Mexico and had a roommate who served in the US Air Force. At night, partly in jest, but mainly as a matter of pride, he would
say on his way out the door, “Sleep well under the blanket of freedom and protection I provide for you tonight.”
Driven by more than a sense of “duty” Eric’s commitment was out of love for God, love for country, and a love for freedom. That’s why he did (does) extraordinary things. God did the extraordinary, as well.
Romans 5: 6-8 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God faithfully protects, leads, and guides us. Our response (just like the response to the American serviceman should be) is to thank Him. No matter what you are facing today, rest assured in the following promise from Psalm 121:7-8
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Here’s an article Lt. Colonel Eric Dorminey wrote about the privilege of duty, service, and freedom: http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123259077
I Didn’t Sleep a Wink…
Psalm 121 is my favorite of the Psalms.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm —
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. If you are waiting for a decision to be made, why not focus only on what God has equipped you to do and stop worrying about the details that are (and can only be) controlled by God. Why not trust Him? After all, if He is staying up all night tending to your life’s situation, then there’s no good reason to have both of you losing sleep over it!
God Is In Charge
God never called you to control the world. Make a list of everything that is weighing heavy upon you today. After you complete the list, scratch off every single item that is out of your control, the ones that only God can take care of.
Live life within the parameters God has set up for you. Live within His expectations. Focus on what He has called you to do, and do not burden yourself with things that He has reserved only for Himself.
He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. Colossians 1:17
Engaging the World… Part One
Last year I heard Bishop T.D. Jakes preach at a conference. This guy is good. He gets the man thing. Anyway, he talked to a group of over 2500 pastors and challenged us with the following. I’m sharing this with you because it is spot on for our lives.
Get into the story of Joseph. You remember this guy. His dad’s favorite. A dreamer. Gets a pretty coat. Loses his coat as he is thrown into a pit and sold as a slave. Works his way up into a position of great power in Egypt. Loses a second coat to a woman he runs from. Hangs out with a baker and butler in jail. Becomes “the man” in Egypt, again. His brothers come to him for help during a famine. Read the story here.
He engages three types of people in his life. Read the story and watch these three types pop up.
1. Colleague – Someone who is for you because of what you are for. Whatever the cause, if they are for it and you are for it, they are for you.
2. Comrade – Someone who is for you because of what you are against. Whatever the cause, if they are against it and you are against it, they are for you.
3. Confidant – Someone who is for you no matter what you are for or against.
Here’s the rub with the first two. When you are no longer for what your colleague was for, or you are no longer against what your comrade was against, they are no longer for you! Pastors face this all the time in churches.
BTW, you might recall that I told you a month ago that I am not for sale. I cannot be bought, because I have already been bought by the blood of the Lamb – The Son of God; Jesus! That’s important for you to know. It means you won’t have to worry about me taking up an agenda or cause that doesn’t move all of us closer to God through Jesus Christ.
We typically regard people from what they are able to bring to the table. In other words, what can I get from them? The better question this morning is to ask, what am I giving?
So, which one are you? Colleague, Comrade or Confidant?
Daily Bible Reading Resources – Updated
FYI, to read older posts, click on the archives.
If you haven’t already started, I would suggest reading through the Bible this year. There are tons of approaches. Here’s one: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/ On this site you can print of the readings, look them up in your own Bible and read them. Or, you can click on the date and the passages for that day will appear in a pop up box for you to read. Once the text pops up, you can read it from any one of 16 English translations and a host of foreign ones.
The International Bible Society has a daily plan you follow, as well. http://www.ibsstl.org/bibles/dailyreading/index.php
Crosswalk.com has a daily plan where you can listen to it online while you read. http://www.biblestudytools.net/BibleInAYear/DailyReading.cgi
Another approach is to read the Bible in 90 days. http://www.biblein90days.org/ This will cost you a few bucks. You’ll by a copy of the Bible in 90 Days book and then log in on the website, where you can listen to the readings while you follow along.
Reconnect with God in daily readings from the best-selling The Message//Remix that takes you through the entire Bible in one year, two years, or four years. Features a book-at-a-time reading plan that immerses you in two different passages each day and gives you a chance to pause and rest with a time of reflection on the seventh day.
